Reflections from Site Leaders...

What is an Outtatown Leader? By Dana Honderich
Building with Habitat for Humanity By Lina Balsamo
Proverbs 31 By Heidi Peters
Door of Hope By Jason Wicklund

What is an Outtatown Leader? By Dana Honderich, Site 3, South Africa

Ha, I laughed when you asked me what to describe what I do for my work... because that is a hard thing to do.  I'll do my best...

The other day we (my 3 co-leaders and I) laughed as we were driving home in our rental car along the ocean... because this is our job.  Not to paint a purely glamorized picture, because along with seeing some of the best parts of Canada and some beautiful other countries, meeting phenomenal people, and learning and growing yourself, it is a lot of work.  One of the core components is mentoring, whereby each leader is assigned to meet with students of the same gender on a one-on-one basis over coffee or while hiking or sitting in the classroom after class. There are also assignments to be marked, contact information to be arranged for future travel plans, interpersonal conflicts to manage, card games to play, late night conversations to be had, and adventures of many shapes and sizes.  It's really hard to describe concretely what it is we do, which is actually part of the beauty of the job.

I love the program!  I love the opportunities to learn and grow that traveling seem to create. I love working with young people who are excited about life. I love seeing God work and move in the hearts and lives of people, changing them for the rest of their life. After all, it is God who changes people... not Outtatown itself!

Another key component is that the program takes on a different flavour/shape depending on the people involved.  Leaders have the opportunity to bring their gifts and share them with the community however possible, which means it ends up looking distinctly unique from one group to the next, one year to the next.  Then of course each group of students shape and colour their own community experience as well.

My cautions would be that there are no concrete "work hours". As a leader I find myself "on call" most of the time, which can be difficult but also just a reality of the job.  This commitment also means a sort of "homeless"/transient feeling for two years with no fixed address, which can cause some identity crises, but is also liberating not having to pay rent, shop for groceries and all the other things "grown ups" have to take care of.  If the thought of packing up a backpack and moving every week makes your skin crawl, then think about how that will work for you because it is a reality of this position.  Flexibility is something that will be about as essential as daily vitamins, as things are constantly changing.

All in all my time as an Outtatown leader (so far) has been an opportunity to refine my gifts, my leadership abilities and even in many ways has served to be a refining of who I am as a person and follower of Jesus.  I continue to be honoured to meet the quality of people that I am brushing elbows with, many of whom I consider life long friends!   My experiences have been some of the best moments of my life, and some of the most challenging... and lots in between!

Building with Habitat for Humanity By Lina Balsamo, Site 2, Guatemala

My return to Guatemala with Outtatown this year has been a blessing that words can’t describe. So often I wonder at God’s goodness and grace in inviting me to participate in such meaningful work in such a beautiful country. This year I have delighted in introducing students to many of the people and places here that hold a special place in my heart, and seeing how some of those same people and places capture their hearts too.

One of those special places for me is Rio Hondo, a desert town where out group worked with Habitat for Humanity for two weeks. Building on our site each day with my small group was amazing. We grew closer together as a group and though it was not always easy, we pressed on through sandflies, sore muscles, and scorching heat: one day reaching 41 degrees celsius in the shade! In between mixing concrete, hauling cinder blocks, and tying rebar, something more than a house was built - strong relationships with our albaniles and ayudantes (masons and helpers), as well as the recipient mom and her two-year-old daughter who were often on site.

Our last day on the work site was a perfect demonstration of the solid connections we made.  Teaming up with Lars’ small group we planned a water war on our abaniles, Julio and Armando. Our carefully calculated bucket tosses sent both abaniles sprinting off momentarily and in a split second, both emerged from the bushes carrying a stash of water bags and began firing them at us. The supersoaker of all supersoakers also made an appearance as we proved to be no match for our well prepared opponents.  Later, Armondo expressed that there would be a void that they would feel the next day in our absence, and we knew we would miss them too. That same night I was also humbled by the father’s claim that he lacked the money he thought was needed to thank us properly for our help; all he could do was pledge to pray for each one of us that we would be richly blessed. I think God has already been answering those prayers here in Guatemala.

Proverbs 31 By Heidi Peters, Site 1, Guatemala

Tall and competent, yet a little cautious, I arrived in Guatemala.  I am no longer a little girl, yet with the excitement of a child I desire to absorb every wonderful sight and smell.  I am here to build relationships with the girls on my site; I will eat the food prepared by my host mother.  And experience culture that has been shaped as much by the women making tortillas as anyone else. 

Proverbs 31:28 “Her children arise and call her blessed, her husband also, and he praises her.”  My hostess is indeed a blessed woman.  Coni feeds and sends her three children off to school just as I roll out of bed.  I am in awe of her ability of make awesome meals day after day!  My favorite: pancakes with apple jam, reminds me of my childhood breakfasts.  Visiting with Coni one night I learned of her pride in her family.  It gave me such joy to hear her joy regarding her husband and son carrying a float during the biggest Easter procession in Antigua.  Coni demonstrates to me such devotion to her family.  May I, too, live with similar joy and devotion.

Proverbs 31:24 “She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.”  Well they may not be linen, but they are woven.  And they may not adorn the shoulders, but they adorn tables.  A small group of women weave and produce coffee to raise money for the education of their children.  Have I ever known such ambition to persevere for 16 years like these women have?  I do not work such long days, nor does my back bend over scrubbing laundry hour after hour.  How does one make that sticky tortilla dough perfectly round?  These women have endured many hardships, yet on they weave!  God grant me the passion to work hard, investing in the future.

Proverbs 31:20  “She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.”  I am not poor, I am not needy…or am I?  I desire to be poor in spirit and I am in desperate need of love.  The little grand daughter of our Habitat mason has unmatchable ability to open and extend.  Sharon opened her heart to sing simple Spanish songs with me and opened her pockets to reveal stones safely stowed away.  She extends her arms for me to lift her and her stuffed animals to the window ledge of the house to watch Papa work.  She brought waves of laughter to our small group as she continually posed for pictures.  Sharon shouted gleefully to Papa after I helped hold the camera enabling her to take a picture of Oso (the teddy bear) and Mike. 

I never want to forget what I have learned from these women.  They are all from such different circumstances, yet all have taught me immeasurable lessons.

Door of Hope By Jason Wicklund, Site 3, South Africa

We have just finished a hectic two weeks in Pretoria, Johannesburg and Soweto. We as staff have been rather exhausted but the students are adjusting well and have really made an effort to engage in their surroundings. We were studying conflict resolution, South African history and the Truth and Reconcilliation Commission at the University of Pretoria the first week. Then we were off to Soweto (the largest black township in S.A, approx. 4 million people) for independent service projects. 

On one of our service project days, one of my students and I went and visited a couple other daycare facilities to drop off some donated school supplies and educational games.  One of these "Creche's" (daycare facilities), had a small door cut into the security wall. This door is aptly called the door of hope. On the inside of this door is a little bed with a sensor underneath, which rings a bell on the inside if something is placed on the mat/bed. This is where some of the desperate and

impoverished woman in Johannesburg can put their children if they can no longer provide for their needs. Thank goodness it's not used very often, but can you imagine being so desperate that you put your child in a door cut out of a wall?